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Tuesday 31 January 2012

***Review*** Pure by Julianna Baggott


 
Released : 8th February 2012
Series :Yes #1 in the Pure series
Format :Kindle
Source : Digital ARC Netgalley
Author Site: Julianna Baggott
 
Goodreads Synopsis:
We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .
Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.
Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .
There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.
When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.

 My review:

“We know you are here, our brothers and sisters.
We will, one day, emerge from the Dome to join
you in peace.
For now, we watch from afar, benevolently.”

Wow this was one complex and mind popping book.  Ten years ago atomic bombs were detonated on Earth; a select few were allowed to escape the detonations by entering a dome.  This dome protected those inside and a new self sufficient community was made.  Meanwhile those outside the dome “the wretches” were left to survive.  Their bodies twisted, scarred and fused to everyday objects.  Life is a constant struggle for them.

This book did take me a good, and I mean a good few chapters to settle into.  I think it is the sheer detail to the story that just boggles the mind.  When you learn about each character you really do settle into the story.  I thought this book was very good and I loved the way the story panned out, I was taken by surprise in a couple of places, and I really like that in a book.  I mean who likes predictable books?!?

My favourite character was Pressia Belze, what a lovely gutsy character
she was.  We meet Pressia around the time of her 16th Birthday.  One of her hands is fused into a doll head that she was holding at the time of the detonations.  This girl has to grow up so fast to deal with the chaos that erupts when she meets a “pure”.  I loved the romance between Pressia and Bradwell, it was sweet and just shows that love can occur in the most horrendous places.

I do think that books which have an element of things that could be possible and believable certainly make you think more about the world around you.  This story could in theory come true in a few decades time.  Pretty scary stuff.....

Lots of detail and some really good characters.  I really liked the way the story was written; it didn’t boggle the reader with too much science fact and science talk, but just enough for readers to grasp the enormity of a nuclear holocaust. 

Story rating: 4/5 – weird and wonderful.  A fast paced ride.

Cover rating: 4/5  I love the butterfly in the dome, certainly a very suitable cover that relates to the story.

About the Author:
 
 Critically acclaimed, bestselling author Julianna Baggott also writes under the pen names Bridget Asher and N.E. Bode. She has published seventeen books over the last ten years. Film rights for her forthcoming novel PURE have been acquired by Fox 2000. The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted, written under pen name Asher, was published in spring 2011. There are approximately 50 foreign editions of her novels to date.

Julianna began publishing when she was twenty-two and sold her first novel while still in her twenties. After receiving her M.F.A. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, she published her first novel, Girl Talk, which was a national bestseller and was quickly followed by Boston Globe bestseller The Miss America Family, and then Boston Herald Book Club selection, The Madam, an historical novel based on the life of her grandmother. She co-wrote Which Brings Me to You with Steve Almond, A Best Book of 2006 (Kirkus Reveiws) optioned by producer Richard Brown and adapted by Keith Bunin with Matthew Warchus set to direct.

Her Bridget Asher novels include The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted, The Pretend Wife, My Husband's Sweethearts. More info can be found at her Bridget Asher blog.

She also writes bestselling novels for younger readers under the pen name N.E. Bode as well as under Julianna Baggott. The Anybodies trilogy was a People Magazine pick alongside David Sedaris and Bill Clinton, a Washington Post Book of the Week, a Girl's Life Top Ten, a Booksense selection, and was in development at Nickelodeon/Paramount; The Slippery Map (fall 2007), and the prequel to Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007), a movie starring Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, and Jason Bateman. For two years, Bode was a recurring personality on XM Sirius Radio.

Julianna's Boston Red Sox novel The Prince of Fenway Park (HarperCollins), was published in spring 2009. It is on the Sunshine State Young Readers Awards List for 2011-2012.
The Ever Breath (Random House) was published in December, 2009.

Baggott also has a highly acclaimed career as a poet, having published three collections of poetry and having been published in the best literary publications in the country, including Poetry, The American Poetry Review, and Best American Poetry in 2001 and 2011.

Baggott's work has appeared in over a hundred publications, including the The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Glamour, Ms., Real Simple, and read on NPR's Here and Now, All Things Considered and Talk of the Nation. Her essays, stories, and poems are highly anthologized.

She is an associate professor at Florida State University's Creative Writing Program.

In 2006, Baggott and her husband co-founded the nonprofit organization Kids in Need - Books in Deed, that focuses on literacy and getting free books to underprivileged children in the state of Florida.
 
 

59 comments:

roro said...

ikr
pretty symbolic cover

btw njoy across the universe

Miri said...

That sounds like a really interesting book. I don't know why, but I seem to be pretty much into dystopian novels right now and that sounds like something I'd like to read. It's on my to read-list now :)
Thank you for the review.

Yuko86 said...

I'm dying to read this! It seems really amazing, thanks for your review!

Laura BurgandyIce said...

Good review. I agree with you on pretty much EVERYTHING. Thx for sharing!! Mine: http://www.burgandyice.blogspot.com/2011/12/review-pure-by-julianna-baggott.html

Linda Henderson said...

This sounds like a very intriguing book, I believe I might like to read this one. Thank you for the review.

mimz said...

I love the cover, it's really beautiful!
I haven't read it yet, but it seems like a great book.

Devan @ Book Strings said...

This sounds so interesting. I've been looking for a book that isn't predictable. I'll have to check it out. Thanks!

Ananda said...

Great review! I too hate when a book is predictable, but in this case, I'm glad some things in the plot took you by surprise. It means the story was original and I sure will check it out. Oh, and I think too the cover is lovely, not sure if it suits the story well or not, cause I haven't read it yet, but the cover sure is gorgeous:)

Pragya said...

I'm so glad for your review. I started reading the book, couldn't get into in and abandoned it. But since you say it took you a few chapters to get settled and then you loved it so, I would give it another try. Thanks!

Pragya

Rica said...

great review!love the cover..and the books sound interesting:)

E Johnson said...

Thanks for the review. I've heard lots of good recomendations about this book - another one to add to the TBR list!

Christina Kit. said...

This one sounds really unique! Thanks for telling us to be patient in the beginning. But it's such a unique concept and I like that the characters are great.

Cayce said...

Weird and wonderful? :) I like complex stories, so maybe I'll try Pure.
Thank you for the review!

Angie said...

Great review! I really liked this one, too. It was so dark and disturbing, and I could picture the deformities all too well. Definitely "weird and wonderful." :)

Angie @ Pinkindle Reads & Reviews

Clarissa (Bookadicea) said...

Great review. Now I would like to add it on my reading pile for Spring and the synopsis is just too interesting to ignore.

mil said...

awesome review

Anonymous said...

Great review. Seems like a really good good. I'm going to look into it for sure.

Stephanie said...

When I first read about this book I wasn't sure whether i would like it or not, but I have heard so many good reviews now as well as the fact that it's going to be made into a movie. So I might have to check it out!

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

I've had this one on my wishlist since I first saw the cover and read the blurb. Thanks for the review!
(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")
alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

IdentitySeeker said...

I actually just read my first review of Pure last night and that got me intrigued. So now I have to know what others say about this book before adding it to my to-buy list. I'm excited for it! Thank you for this review:)

Sarah Bibi Setar

Vidya Ravi said...

Great review! I have this book for review and will soon read it.

Vidya @ Books Are Magic

Farah said...

I don't know about this. I got it on Galley and read the first few chapters but somehow found it too gruesome. I guess I'll give it a try*shrug*. But nice review anyway:)

Fara @ Tumbling In Books

Ning said...

Great review! Not the usual book, which is great! I can't wait to read this, although this is kind of too long for my taste.

Unknown said...

I have heard good things about this book and after reading the synopsis I did think it was going to be a very interesting and thought provoking read. Your review seems to confirm what I thought. I will defintely have to check this out. Thank you so much for reviewing this you did a very good job(:

Persephone said...

Oh wow, she has a head doll fused to her hand. That is either really creepy, really sad or interesting. I so want to read this book because I love the cover and it sounds like an interesting dystopia that remind me of an anime with the whole dome issue going on.

Kayla Beck said...

I loved this book, too! It's one of the most believable post-apocalyptic novels that I've read in a long time. If I was still teaching, I would definitely use this book as an assignment. There are so many themes and layers, and it is so beautifully written.

Leannessf said...

Great review! Sounds like the sort of dystopian novel with a little romance kind of book made for me!

Thanks!
Leanne

mariska said...

I never read this book. But it sounds like a really interesting book. And like your review about this. Maybe I would read it someday :D

Mariska

Sam said...

Great review! I really want to read this!

Steph said...

Great review!! This sounds like an interesting read. I'll add it to my TBR list!!

Monica Lopez said...

Definitely on my TBR list!

Ana Death Duarte said...

This sentence from your review already bought me into the book. "Their bodies twisted, scarred and fused to everyday objects. Life is a constant struggle for them."
Looks like a VERY CREEPY post-apocalipt/dystopian book.. it also reminded me of #Fringe...
And the cover would not show this "creepiness"
Surely will add to my to be read almost immediately pile!
Great review!
xoxo

Rea said...

I read this one not long ago and like you I had some trouble really getting into it. It took me until about the 20-25% point to actually start to want to know more but the rest of the story really made up for it!

I too loved the romance between Pressia and Bradwell! I'm so glad things turned out the way they did. :)

Christina said...

Oh my god. Thank you so much for explaining the cover. I totally thought it was someone's head with straight black hair fused to a butterfly, which sort of made sense except there was no one like that. The dome thing makes me like it way better.

My favorite character was the guy with the birds in his back, whose name I am completely blanking on. Why is it I can remember the names of the other people and not my favorite? Haha.

Dark_Calling said...

Wonderful review...
I really wanna read this book :)
The cover seems interesting, as well as the story :D
your review makes me wanna read it more

Leannessf said...

Great review - I like books that delve slightly into the scientific background (as that's my area of work :)), espcially dystopian novels since I think that adds to the architecture and realism of the society. A little romance thrown in is also always welcome!

Sounds like I will enjoy Pure - definitely on my TBR list!

Thanks!
Leanne
leannessf

Christina Kit. said...

Awesome review!

I love how Pure is so totally different, including the actual people.

I love how you went into detail about the cover! It's great:)

Wolfswan1 said...

Wow, I wanted to read this book because I liked the cover. Then I read your review and I am thinking this is not really my genre but since I know I love this kind of movie I would absolutely love to read this book. Thanks so much for the review.

Unknown said...

You make this book sound so interesting. Thank you Jerri Davis

Janita said...

Sounds like an interesting book!

Jennifer said...

Pretty cover. This does sound interesting. I really want to read this book. This has made me want to read it more!

Dani @ Refracted Light said...

I'm really looking forward to this one. A doll's head fused to her hand, a nuclear holocaust. I've heard some snippets from others about the world and it just sounds FASCINATING. Thank you so much for your review!

shorevalerie said...

This plot is truly original and I'm dying to read this book now!

Lilydh14 said...

It sounds interesting, but would it really compare to the many other Dystopian YA novels out there? Anyways, thanks for the review! I might check it out sometime soon ;)

Sophia Rose said...

On one level I find these stories scary because they might come true, but on another level, I love them because they are survivor stories. This one sounds pretty good.

Thanks for sharing your review!

Sara Kovach / Dare to be Different - Teach! said...

Just my type of book - I love dystopian and post-apocalyptic novels. I have seen several positive reviews of this one. Thank you for the review.

bn100 said...

I enjoyed the review, especially about the characters and the writing style. Sounds like a good book.

Diana_Dimovska said...

I stumble on this book almost everywhere. It must be good, according to all reviews I read till now. I must give it a try, since it's a dystopian book. :) Another one on my TBR pile. :)

Thanks for the review, Diana

Unknown said...

The story sounds interesting. I have an ebook of this book, after reading your review I think I'll read it soon.

Thank u for the review. Great review :)

@MelissaJoLynn_ said...

I'm still trying to figure out what the cover is of. I like the butterfly though. Nice review. I've seen this one around, but I might actually read it now.

Reading Away The Days said...

To be honest I have been reading Pure for 3 months now and still havent finished it! I just cant get into but for some reason I just want to finish it. I have read loads of books over the last few months but still haven't finished it! I might have to give it another go. I love the US cover with the butterfly the UK is not as good!

farpastmidnight said...

I adored this one. It was fast paced and interesting.

Thanks for the review.
Ro.

Steph said...

Thanks for the review! I really want to read this one - I've heard good things and it sounds so interesting!

Bianca said...

Thanks for sharing! Great review. :)
Made me became interested to this. :)

Sharmaine C said...

Yey! Four out of Five stars! I've seen not-so-good reviews on this one so I'm not sure whether I'll still read this or not! But a four star review! Definitely gonna read it! Thanks for the review!

Jaime Lester said...

Thanks for your review of Pure. I won this in a hop recently, but I haven't had a chance to read it yet. Yours is actually the first review that I have read about this book. I am pleased to see that your review was mostly positive. It definitely makes want to stop what I am reading now (which happens to be Clarity by Kim Harrington) and jump right into Pure. Thanks again for a great review. And I also enjoyed learning about the author!

Jaime

Emily said...

I wasn't too sure about buying this book but reading your review makes me re-think. Going shopping with some friends next week and i'm pretty sure i'll be coming home with this!

Natalie @ Book Lovers Life said...

Great review. I only recently got Pure from a friend and Im intrigued with the concept.

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